Switzerland company offers young boys extra-small condom, the Hotshot by sticky

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Post date: 08.03.2010

Call it pint-sized protection for preteens.

A Switzerland-based company is manufacturing extra-small condoms for the 12- to 14-year-old set.

Dubbed the Hotshot, the prophylactic was developed in response to a study that indicated young teens were regularly engaging in unprotected sex.

"The result that shocked us concerned young boys who display apparently risky behaviour," said Nancy Bodmer, who oversaw the research for the study at the Center for Development and Personality Psychology at Basel University in Switzerland.

"They have more of a tendency not to protect themselves," she said, adding that because of their young age, they also do not know much about sexuality.

"They do not understand the consequences of what they are doing," Bodmer said. "The results of this study suggest that early prevention makes sense."

Several organizations, including family planning groups, campaigned for the production of the small condoms.

The Hotshot measures 1.7 inches in diameter (as opposed to 2 inches found with regular ones), and 7.4 inches in length. According to the company, Lamprecht AG, it is only available in Switzerland.

Although the age of consent in Switzerland is 16, sex between minors is perfectly legal as long as they are not more than three years apart in age.